#but he did get bruce's attention

[clericxhood777]

How to get your crush's attention: Jeremiah Valeska Edition

Step one: Break into his house

Step two: Bring up his childhood trauma

Step three: Threaten his mother and second father figure

Step four: Unresolved sexual tension

05x07

[do-not-careissa]

Bruce is beginning to regret letting Damian and Jason spend so much time together.

Individual pics/panels below the read more

[theredcuyo]

Sleepovers at the manor. SLEEPOVERS AT THE MANOR.

Bruce had always been very wary of who got to and who didn't get into the manor further than the guest spaces, and when Dick appearead in his life with eyes that could make him do literally anything, he feared the day he'd ask to bring a friend over

Maybe that's why he decided to use the ancient ways Alfred has once used against him and Harvey

Embarrasment

Wally West was used as a warning to Dick, and he learned

Dick didn't get the chance to teach Jason that lesson in his time as Robin, but when his little wing and Roy crashed at his place one time, he got it

He'd gotten practice before that, learning from the masters themselves when Tim invited young justice over

Tim got back at him by sending Kory and Babs some of his old stash of Robin photos

Steph tried to escape it, but she and Cass got trapped at the same time by Alfred's cookies, and that day, Tim took notes

By the time Jon first stayed with Damian for a sleepover, Damian knew about the 'tradition' already and he was determined to prove himself over it

He failed when all of his sibblings joined forces, from Dick's retale of when he was his Batman, to Todd's old stories from their time training in the league and somehow Drake had gotten pictures of him when he was younger (Talia gladly contributed)

Was it too late for his father to un-adopt them all?

[necrotic-nephilim]

for the ask game (1)

au where bruce is attracted to his robins and batgirls. he tries not to think about it or act on it, but it's getting more difficult with every new member of his team he acquires. does anyone know? do the robins and batgirls notice his weird behavior? what do they do about it? do they ever find out the truth? who would think it's terrible and who would find it strangely hot/comforting/nice? does bruce ever act on his feelings?

for the ask game!

oh my GOD do i have thoughts for AUs like this, i love this shit so dearly, dirtybadwrong Bruce who's trying to keep a lid on it my beloved.

i think the fun of this AU is if characters would notice Bruce lusting for themselves vs would they notice Bruce lusting for a different Robin/Batgirl. like does Dick pick up on it when it's just him and Bruce? no, because it's just. him and Bruce. he and Bruce are weird and complicated and hold endless bounds of nuance. that's just How Bruce Is, and Dick is the "test run", in a sense. he knows Bruce is new to this whole sidekick/family thing and is giving Bruce grace for being rough around the edges. but when Bruce starts looking at Jason or Tim or Cass that way, that's when Dick starts to notice. it's never enough of a suspicion he feels justified to bring it up, but the thought lingers. he's hyperaware and grows less and less comfortable with leaving them alone with Bruce. it's a weird game of chicken, Dick and Bruce staring each other down when Bruce's touch lingers too long. each waiting for the other to say something first. if Bruce ever broke and actually acted on his feelings, Dick would be eaten alive by the guilt of knowing something was up, but never saying something until it was too late.

obviously, Cass would know. there's no world where Cass *doesn't* know, the nature of who and what she is would immediately clock it. but the issue is, Cass doesn't have a good framework of what family looks like. she doesn't really understand familial vs romantic love bc she has no firsthand experience of what a parent's love should even look like. so she never calls it out. she just watches. i'm a fan of Cass believing this is normal and believing she too can express and act on attraction that's vaguely incestuous. maybe it's with Babs, maybe it's with Dick or Tim or Bruce himself. but she recognizes this as Normal and Accepted within the Batfamily, so it severely fucks up her understanding of familial love and i just. man it's my favorite thing about Cass in Batcest honestly, is how you can play with her lack of experience with love, boundaries, and sexuality.

Tim is the fun one for me. because my favorite flavor of BruTim is when Tim knows, as he agrees to be Robin, that there's a non-zero chance that Bruce is going to be Weird and agrees anyway because he's decided it's an acceptable risk. so Tim knows from the get-go because he's expecting it. if Bruce acts on his attraction, i think it's either with Tim or Cass first, because they're the most likely to confront him about it in a way that isn't entirely negative. Tim has accepted it's a possibility and Cass just seeks being loved and touched so. it leads to the first time someone's ever confronted Bruce about it. and the thing is, Bruce really doesn't like confrontation about his flaws. the first time Tim tries to imply he's okay with it, Bruce would lash out at the idea, tell Tim how inappropriate that is and benches Tim for a week. it'd probably take a united front from Cass and Tim to get Bruce to even *admit* to the attraction. still Bruce wouldn't allow it to happen and he brushes them off until finally, the dam breaks. it's fun if there's a cause like sex pollen, but i think it's *more* fun if it's just. a random fucking Tuesday and finally Bruce is at his limit. he has no real reason, there's nothing particularly different about that day's routine. he just sees Tim or Cass striping armor and sighs and gives in.

i don't think Steph, Jason, or Babs would notice until anything substantial happened. not because they're not wicked smart, but just because none of them were looking for it. Jason put Bruce on a pedestal when he was alive, and when he came back from the dead he wasn't close enough to be noticing Bruce's interpersonal dynamics outside of his narrow scope. Steph has no real framework for what healthy fatherhood looks like, so if Bruce's touches linger, if he stares too long, she just shrugs and assumes it's how it is. and Babs was just never quite close enough to Bruce to notice. if and when she notices, is when actual sexual things start to happen between Cass and Bruce. because Cass would see no reason to hide it. Babs would be pissed, but it'd be tricky to navigate. Cass would be an adult, even if she's only 18/19, so technically, she's old enough to be consenting. if nothing else, Bruce is a careful man. even when he breaks and gives in to his desires, he covers his tracks well. he makes sure he has enthusiastic consent and there's no legal recourse that could be taken. age of consent and all that. there's not much Babs can *do* other than try to tell Cass (and/or Tim) that this isn't normal or okay. not that it gets her anywhere, but god would she try.

by the time Duke comes along (if we venture out of the pre-Flashpoint era) i think it's a sort of. open secret, in the Batfamily. talked about in nothing but hushed whispers and knowing glances. at some point, they've all had sex with Bruce, caving all for different reasons. some more than others. Tim sees it as a duty, Cass sees it as a way of seeking comfort, Steph sees it as getting Bruce's approval for once, etc. it's never forced on them, but eventually, they all come to Bruce sooner or later. and that's the fun irony of it, i think. they try to convince the others not to, but would go to Bruce on their own well. because complicated reasons they can't put into words. sometimes, Bruce is just a messy man who doesn't realize how prized his Attention to for the rest of the Batfamily. that weird duality of not liking him, but also wanting desperately for him to like you. all of them have dealt with it, at some point. so for Duke, it takes a while for him to understand this... whole dynamic. it's Cass who tries to explain it to him, and he's a little horrified, a lot confused. especially when Bruce starts staring at him a little too long as well. i think he'd only want to watch first but well. they all cave eventually.

also fun bonus if we venture into the Dark Knight Returns universe for my bestest girl Carrie Kelley: there's such a like, "i'm fucking around and i'm finding out" vibe to Carrie. like Tim, she's very proactive in just. deciding she's going to be Robin and she's ready for whatever that entails. (IMO canon Carrie is closer to fanon Tim than canon Tim is but *that* deserves its own post-) like she takes one look at the old man that is Batman and goes yup. he's never fucking getting rid of me now. if Bruce started having weird feelings about her, i think she'd have *fun* with it. she's decided she's in it for the long haul and for whatever being Robin means so. she's almost teasing about it, seeing how hard she can push before Bruce snaps. since it's an older, gruffer Bruce, i think he'd express open annoyance at it first, almost a sort of banter about how Carrie behave. but of course he caves and Carrie leans into it, because there's a fun in having all of Bruce's attention to herself. in the main timeline, Bruce is pretty split with so many Robins and Batgirls, but during their era, it's *just* her and him and she's very proud she's got him all to herself.

[mishy-mashy]

Shinomori is cute. Here's a post.

He is so baby-faced. He hasn't changed at all since he was 22, to when he died of "old age" at 40

(Old age? With a face like that? 40 years old?? Gimme that kind of youth and hotness Shinomori-)

He has tiny eyebrows. Like a puppy's (rottweiler's, for example). So cute and tiny and fuffy

He naturally frowns. Look at him and his mouth and his lil nose

He has a thing about keeping his arms near his chest. He sits with his arms crossed, introduces himself with his hands over his torso, and even walks with his arms crossed toward Midoriya

He has such clear skin for someone who lived the rest of his life in a forest??? Why do Hikage and Yoichi have such nice skin despite living in terrible environments? (forest and vault + abandoned streets respectively)

Is easily scared

They knew their Quirks could be used, but Shinomori got scared of it when it happened. Even though he gave Midoriya his support and access to his Quirk beforehand. Depending on the translation; "it startled me", "you scared me", "it surprised me"

I'm not going to hold running from AFO against him because he knew he was running for his life. Who wouldn't run for their life when it's in danger? Shinomori was being chased by the strongest person in the country (and likely the world)

His sense of self-preservation is probably heightened by the nature of his Quirk to keep him out of danger too. Which makes him all the more sensitive and jumpy to danger and anything that startles him, especially when he has no warning

He's actually extremely tall, but is so socially inept and jumpy it's adorable. He's taller than Bruce.

Bruce is as tall as a vault door that the 2m AFO used.

(Meanwhile Kudo is down there-)

He has such a bad sense of humor that it's cute (his puns off Danger Sense)

It's also adorable how Shinomori just doesn't understand social conventions sometimes. He lived in a forest, so it made sense, but also— Midoriya shows up in the void to the vestige platform for the first time. He has no mouth, no clothes—and Shinomori's first idea is to stand in front of him menacingly and go: "I shall explain. I am Shinomori Hikage." SIRRRR

This.

His Ability is basically like glorified anxiety. What if something is coming to hurt him? If something can hurt him? What if that tree falls while he's under it? And the ideas come so hard they hurt (although yes, it does detect ill intent and that's what sets it off)

He talks weirdly. Formal? Old-fashioned? Listening to him speak Japanese compared to others, it just sounds a bit different. (Translated subs don't show it very well, it's the voice itself methinks)

"This too, is destiny." *about Midoriya having OFA*

Kinda wise or sage-y. He did spend his life in solitude in the forests so he definitely spent a lot of time with his own thoughts. Maybe he found the meaning of life in a centipede or something one day

For someone so cute, he is also such. A fine. Specimen???

Look at those back muscles, dang.

LOOK AT HIS CALVES AND ARMS DANG.

[weirdo-from-bonesborough]

Dick Grayson, age nine, looking up at Clark with blue eyes that promise death warning, “Batman’s best friend is Robin. Not Superman.”

[bruciemilf]

So Injustice Bats would adopt Battinson. How would Injustice Superman react to him?

We don't talk about that mf here sjjss

[ftmbruce]

this scene specifically just like...summoned itself into my mind in the middle of my workday and i can't get the idea out of my mind. literally all i can think about is an exchange like this between bruce and tim early in their relationship, where a third party like alfred who knows bruce So well sees just two seconds of the way they interact and just KNOWS immediately. "goddammit." <- he would do anything for this silly child and it's Over for us all

[fckbatmanhiskidsareminenow]

do you think that bruce sometimes calls the bat kids by the wrong names? like

“dick can you pass me that file please?” and tim’s standing there with this 😑 look on his face.

“what?”

“you called me dick.”

“did i?”

or

“jason-tim-cass fuck titus!” he was trying to get damians attention who is looking at his father like he’s having a stroke.

or

“can you ask jason to come here please?”

“jason doesn’t live here b”

“what? oh no i meant duke.”

[charlietheepicwriter7]

The Joker was apprehended, sitting on the ground as Batman guarded him, but the kid--"Bruce Wayne's newest ward, how tragic! Hehehe!"--was nowhere to be found. Nightwing and Red Hood desperate searched the warehouse until a shuffling noise grabbed their attention.

A kid, black haired just like the kid in the Joker's broadcast, crawling out of a pile of boxes. "Is it over?" the boy asked quietly.

Nightwing guided him to the only exit, unfortunately walking past the boy's own kidnapper. "Yeah, kid. It's over. Come on-"

Like a shot, the boy rushed the Joker and kicked him right in the balls.

The Joker wheezed like a dying squeaky toy. Red Hood froze. Nightwing immediately snatched the boy up by the armpits, but all that did was give the boy the height to attack again, punting Joker in the jaw. The clown went down and cracked his head on the floor. He did not get back up.

There was a moment of silence before Red Hood roared with laughter, his helmet distorting the sound.

[angstandhappiness]

LMAO

This is stupid, I spent too long on this lmao

[littlebirdy-bat]

thinking about… height difference with Jason

An angry sigh left your lips, alerting Jason that something was about to go down.

Stomping into the living room where he was reclined on the sofa, feet up and book open. You stood at the doorway, your crossed arms and paused lips demanding attention.

“what’s wrong, princess?”

“what’s wrong? Can you stop putting everything on the top shelves?!"

Jason is almost thankful for his years training under Bruce as he holds his face neutral. Practiced poker face refusing to make way for a smile that fought to break through.

“Every time I want to grab anything, I have to scale the side of a small building because my boyfriend’s a fucking skyscraper,” You continue, getting swept away in your exaggerated rant. “How am I ever supposed to do anything for myself?! I can’t work in these conditions!”

The corner of his lips began to twitch as he set his book side during your dramatic speech. In a few long strides he makes his way over to you, towering over you he simply replies, “you’re cute when you’re mad. ”

Pout still etched into your features, you look up at him through your lashes causing him to suck in a sharp breath, god how did he ever get so lucky.

“I just wanted to bake for my man,” you sulked.

“You didn’t have to do that, sweetheart.”

“But I wanted to. Now lean down before I kick you in the shins and get you down here myself,” you reply, pawing at the collar of his shirt, pulling it to close the distance between your lips.

[dcxdpdabbles]

Bruce: It's come to my attention that a paranormal being has made Wayne Manor its residence. I've hired Constantine and his team to remove-

Tim: BUT BRUCE I LOVE HIM!

Bruce: What-

Tim: Stop trying to tear us apart!

Bruce: Tim wait what are you-

Tim: You'll never made me break up with Danny! NEVER!

John watching Tim race up to his room where he senses the ghost boy: I may be taking a shot in the dark here, but I think that lad is dating a ghost.

Bruce: Timothy Jack Drake Wayne, did you sneak a boyfriend into this house?! Young man, you turn right back around! *running up the stairs yelling*

John: So Bruce has no problem with the lad being dead?

Alfred: Please, as if Master Tim is the only one who dated a ghost. I used to have a gentleman caller on the other side as well.

John: Blimey, and here I thought you were just boring and snotty. Who was the ex?

Alfred: Clockwork

John: .....I have never respected another man as much as I do you Alfred.

Alfred: Yes, well, make sure it stays at respect, young man. I don't find children attractive

John blushing and in a squeaky voice: Yes, sir.

Madame Xanadu by a circle of salt: Soooo does this mean we're still getting the ghost out?

Zatanna: We better. I don't want to watch John make a fool over himself over Alfred anymore, then I have to. That man is way out of his league.

Madame Xanadu: What does that have to do with the Ghost Boy?

Danny popping in the middle of the circle: I think it's cause she has feelings for him. Personally I can't see it. Sad trench coat man is famous in the Zone for being terrible in romantic communication-

Zatanna: Bind the circle! We got him!

Madame Xanadu pale: What have we done.....your royal majesty, please excuse this disrespect. We had no idea you were the ghost, I swear on my soul-

Danny: That's okay. I don't mind at all. This is cute actually *swipes salt* like when a little kid pretends to shoot you.

Zatanna: ......that was our strongest binding spell.

Danny: Like I said, cute. It's not nearly as cute as my boyfriend, though. Tim's cuteness broke the bar! By the way, Alfred, I have a message for you from Clockwork. He wants to know if you are willing to have dinner sometime?

Alfred: Been there, done that. And frankly, I feel it's rather pathetic of a high being sending his grandson to ask for a date.

Zatanna blushing: Okay, John, I get it.

[solarplanet2]

Which one is in Danger?

Part 2

DCxDP Prompt/Drabbles

Part 1

"We have your son."

Bruce was expecting a very normal day. If you consider having to deal with the chaos of his children and being a vigilante at night as normal.

But nonetheless, a very simple day of his normal routine and once a week dinner with his family.

Only to be broken by a phone call by someone stating that his son has been kidnapped.

Bruce didn't answer right away, he was mentally counting his sons who, are all counted for, are on the dinner table.

"Which one?" Bruce eyed each of his sons and counted them again just to be sure.

"Timothy Drake-Wayne."

Bruce immediately eyed Tim who was sitting in between Jason and Cass.

Tim's here.

Then who's the one being kidnapped?

"Bruce?" Dick spoke up, thinking that something was wrong the way Bruce was looking at all of them.

Bruce slightly waved at Dick, telling him to calm down first. "What do you want?"

Dick's question seemed to catch everyone's attention since they were all looking at Bruce now.

"Two Million. Or he gets it."

A standard threat. The kind he was expecting.

"Can I speak to my son?" This earned confused looks of his children and Bruce waved them off gesturing that it was not what they were thinking about.

"Alright kid," The kidnapper from the other said grunted, almost sounding smug. "Say hello to Daddy."

Bruce could hear heavy breathing, almost sounding like a grunt. It made Bruce slightly worried. "...Tim?" Bruce decided to speak first. "Tim, Are you okay?" And Bruce hopes that he is.

A soft grunt responded. "Hi." A croaked voice managed to respond. It sounded young. And was punched in the stomach. He should know, almost all of his children had experienced that way.

"Don't worry, chum. I'm getting you out of there." Bruce tried reassuring the kid, worried about what they might do to him. Because this isn't Tim. Tim is right across from him and these kidnappers basically had kidnapped the wrong person.

He gestured to his children, a familiar gesture, for them to head to the cave and suit up. They quickly followed, not without worried glances and confused glances at Bruce's way.

"No.." The kid had said, choked out which made Bruce paused on his step in confusion. It caught his children's attention, stopping as well.

"Uhm...Dad? I'll be fine."

Bruce believed that, for some reason, but it didn't stop his worry. But the next words from the boy made him blink

"Please give me your permission."

"....To what?" Bruce asked confusingly. Permission to what?

"To hurt."

Bruce has raised enough children to know enough about silent words in some part of the sentences without right out saying it.

To hurt them.

The kid is asking permission to hurt his kidnappers.

Bruce should say no and wait for help. Should be saying that help is on the way.

Bruce should say that he'll come and save him.

Now, Bruce doesn't normally follow his gut. It causes too much mystery and had no explanation to either it would be a good thing or a bad thing.

But right now, for once, Bruce would agree with his gut.

"....Alright."

Static came in the phone, like it was losing signal but he could clearly hear the boy voice coming out like an echo.

"Good."

"What the-- AAAHHH!!!"

Beeeepppp

Bruce blinked as he looked down at his phone after the call ended.

.....Should he have not give him permission?

"B? What's wrong? Did something happen?" Dick asked, increasingly worried now as he saw Bruce staring at his phone.

"....Suit up." Bruce concluded. They should find the boy as quickly as possible. "And call an ambulance."

Bruce could see the confused look at everyone's faces as he walked passed them.

"Wait, B!" Duke had spoke up running after Bruce with his siblings. "Was someone hurt? Is it another gang fight?"

"No. The ambulance is for the kidnappers."

".....What??"

: )

Parts: Part 1

[thatstheproblemwithnapkinman]

screw it, I've posted this to ao3 too bc why not, you can find it here

Danny couldn’t sit still as his parents drove to Vlad’s, and this time it wasn’t because of his dad’s driving. He’d completely shocked Vlad when his opinion on the gala had shifted and he was happily cooperating with all of the outfit planning.

He knew Vlad was planning on showing him off, announcing him as the heir to his vast fortune just to get closer to Maddie as Jack would surely force him to spend copious hours in training with his best friend Vladdie. The thought of that makes him shudder every time. The idea of being paraded around annoyed him and made him nervous.

And yet Danny wasn’t just jittery from those nerves. He was also excited to meet his friend. They’d become close over months of playing Doomed together, and Danny had never clicked with anyone like him before, not even Tucker or Sam. He just got it. Not the whole being a teenage vigilante of course, no one could understand spending years of your life saving the day and getting shit for it. They’d bonded over their overbearing but caring older sibling and odd sleep schedule. He just understood when Danny had to quickly cancel and never asked questions. He didn't look down on him when he came on in the middle of the day because he missed school for reasons. The idea he would meet someone who, somehow, understood what is was like for him.

Except he was nervous. All he knew about his friend was a name.

Tim

He guessed Tim was around his age, 17, but other than that, he had no idea who he'd be looking for. he didn't know what to expect.

Tugging on his shirt, he braced himself as the GAV pulled up to the ghastly mansion Vlad called home (no pun intended). Jazz was away at college so got lucky. She didn't have to deal with their dad being incredibly embarrassing all night. Maybe Tim would be a relief from it all.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Tim shuffled in his seat, earning a gland from everyone in the car. He wasn't the only one dragged to the gala, Dick and Damian had also been roped into it. Whilst it was common for Damian to go, Dick was in town and owed Cass for an assist she gave him, and after begging her for anything else, he reluctantly joined them. Of course, none of them wanted to be there, they just put on the show of the happy Wayne family to get intel and draw people away from the whole "Batman" thing. Which is why the four of them had been driven 2 hours from Chicago airport to Amity Park.

Sighing, he looked over to find Dick watching him.

"What do you want, Dick?"

His brother threw his hands into the air and gasped dramatically.

"Now now Timmy, no need to be so rude..."

"Shut up."

"Ok man, I'm just wondering what's up? You're not normally nervous for these things."

Dick was right. He never got nervous at galas. His parents had been taking him to them since he was able to walk, and even once he started attending them as Timothy "might as well be a Wayne" Drake he remained in the flow. And yet, because he was meeting Danny, he felt jittery.

"It's nothing Dick, I'm just a little on edge today."

Dick tilted his head slightly and narrowed his eyes.

"Sure Tim, but if you need anyone to bail you out tonight, just find me."

Tim nodded and turned back to the window, just in time to see the strange mansion come into view. He didn't exactly know why but the building put him on edge. It felt wrong. And he knew his family felt it to. The atmosphere shifted and he could feel work mode activate. Dick stiffened, Damian locked his eyes on the building and barely blinked as they got closer and closer, and while Bruce appeared to be the same, his eye's were all Batman. They would be working tonight. The Batman's and their Robins. An unstoppable force.

This was going to be a fun evening...

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

After spending the past 30 minutes hiding from Vlad, Danny finally found himself with no way out and was dragging into the spotlight.

"And this is Daniel, my godson and future owner of VladCo, once he has been appropriately educated of course." drawled Vlad as he gripped Danny's shoulder so hard his arm started to go numb. He wanted to slip away, to pass through the wall and fly back to his house. He knew Vlad would certainly come after him but just some time away from this awful place. Everyone looked at him as if he had been dragged in from a gutter. Vlad had paid for his new suit and yet these rich, stuck up, assholes could smell the commoner on him. He hated it. The only reason he hadn't left was so he could meet Tim, although with every minute he couldn't find him, he was starting to lose hope.

A tug on his shoulder brought him back to reality and he looked over to see Vlad glaring at him.

"Now Daniel, I know this isn't how you wish you were spending your night but you could at least pretend to be enjoying yourself instead of trying to laser the floor."

Danny gritted his teeth.

"You know damn well I don't want to be here."

"Of course I do Daniel, which is why I am enjoying this evening so much. Although, I supposed if it really is so terrible for you, I could-"

Vlad was cut off by a silence that fell across the room. His grip loosened enough for Danny to wiggle out and towards the door where the socialites had all turned to gawk. Once he caught sight of who had arrived, he realised why.

Even in Amity Park, the Wayne's were well known. Bruce Wayne, multi-billionaire, playboy, regarded as one of the ditziest CEOs in the world. His eldest and recently adopted son Richard "Dick" Grayson, just as much of a playboy if not more, know for flirting with everyone and always making your night better. The youngest, Damian Wayne, a 13 year old who looked like he wanted to murder everyone in the room including himself. Danny could relate. But even they had seen the media storm when he'd arrived one day, showing up out of nowhere as the only biological child of Bruce. Poor kid, being thrown into this world so fast.

Finally, Danny's eyes fell onto the fourth member of the party. Timothy Drake, son of the late Jack and Janet Drake, a billionaire in his own right before he was taken in by Bruce. Like the others, he was in his stride, a large smile and politely acknowledging everyone as he passes.

With a sudden shock down his arm, he spun to see Vlad had gripped his shoulder once more and started leading him towards the Wayne's.

"Oh Ancients please anything but meeting more stuck up billionaires" he prayed, although they would probably find this hilarious to watch. Danny Phantom, multi-time saviour of the infinite realms, being forced to talk to drivelling wealthy snobs who see him as a lesser being. What joy. Bracing himself, he let Vlad force them both into the conversation.

"Ah Mr Wayne, so glad you and your children could join us tonight. Although I am sure I remember Miss Cain being on the RSVP?"

With a bright smile, Bruce shook Vlad's hand.

"Cass unfortunately had something come up and so Dick very kindly offered to me, Damian, and Tim. No point wasting a place now is there."

All of a sudden, Danny shuddered. This was enough for Vlad to look down at him out of concern. Well, more like he was concerned Danny would ruin his gala by stopping whatever ghost he assumed had arrived. Yet this wasn't his ghost sense. He felt as if he was being watched. He tried to play it off, but looking up revealed 5 sets of eyes on him.

"And who may this be?" Bruce's voice sweet and innocent, whilst his eyes seemed to see straight through Danny. He even checked his hand to make sure he was still visible.

"This is my godson and heir to VladCo, Daniel Fenton."

Now, Danny wasn't stupid, not be any means. If he hadn't been regularly missing school due to his extracurriculars, he would have straight As. He was also observant, something that came in very handy as a vigilante. So he didn't miss when Tim stiffened for a split second. He was confused until it clicked.

Tim.

Tim.

No. way.

His friend, the person who understood him more than anyone, was Tim Drake.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Thank you for having us Mr Masters, hopefully we can talk later." Bruce shook Vlad's hand. "Daniel, it was a pleasure."

"Y- yeah. It was nice meeting you..." Danny forced out, staring at Tim.

When Masters had introduced them, Tim hadn't been paying any attention. He was focussed on the strange feeling he got from the building. He had, however, immediately tuned in at the mention of 'Daniel". Danny had told him about his weird uncle that constantly called him Daniel even though he hated it. And seeing the way the kid flinched when he was introduced had put the pieces together.

As Danny was being pulled away, he met Tim's eyes and gave him a pleading look. Tim grinned and turned back to face Bruce who was staring at him.

"What?"

"You tensed."

He refrained from rolling his eyes.

"Fine. I was nervous about coming because the guy I've been playing Doomed with said he was going to be here and it's Danny, okay."

"*tt*, That's pathetic, Drake. He is just a person not unlike anyone else. Why would you be nervous?" Damian scoffed and Tim wanted to drop him. Luckily, Dick stepped in to be the mediator.

"Damian, Tim was nervous about meeting a friend for the first time, which is completely normal." He clapped Tim on the back. "It explains how you've been acting all week, and I suppose that grin means you want to do something fun?"

"Please do not make a scene. We aren't in Gotham and I don't think these people would appreciate your usual antics." Which was Bruce for "Don't get arrested or burn the building down."

"Bruce, please. You have to have faith we would never do something like that," Dick smiled at him, "again."

With that, Bruce took a deep breath in and made his way into the crowd, Damian following after him. He turned to Dick and saw that shit eating grin he so loved and feared staring back at him.

"Let's go find your friend and show him how to have fun at these events."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

After moving on from the Wayne's to another conversation, Danny saw his chance to escape when Vlad once again lessened his grip and he swiftly snuck away. If Vlad had noticed anything strange with the Wayne's, he didn't say anything to Danny. Yet Danny felt off. The way Mr Wayne had looked at him, that wasn't how the dim billionaire playboy would look at him, analysing his body language. He'd learned what that looked like from years of Jazz doing it.

He also knew his friend, and Tim was nothing like how Timothy Drake was portrayed by the media. If he was putting on an act then maybe they all were. Now he just needed to find him again.

Moving through the crowd, he tried to work his way over to the buffet table, hoping they had gone for food. Shaking with nerves and excitement, he looked around to see if he could spot them. He was so focussed he didn't notice where he was going until he bumped into someone. Someone who happened to be Damian Wayne.

"Sorry Damian. I didn't mean to run into you."

"Hmph, of course not, you just forget to watch your surroundings and stay in your own head. No wonder you befriended Drake."

"Errrr, thanks? Anyway, do you know where Tim has gone?"

Damian looked him up and down before smirking. The sight was unsettling.

"Him and Richard went off to find you and probably set up some sort of prank or game to play. From the way he was burning holes into your Godfather's back, it would most likely have something to do with him."

"... Did you see where they went?"

Damian gestured towards the nearest door. As he turned to leave, the boy spoke up.

"Fenton, if you hurt Tim, I will personally tear you apart until you are begging for death, only to leave you broken." With that, he disappeared into the gaggle of socialites behind him, leaving Danny bewildered and intimidated.

"Damn, rich kids really are strange," he muttered as he headed through the door and down the vast hallways of the mansion.

When Vlad had moved to Amity Park, he had commissioned a new home on the outskirts of the city, close enough it was feasible for a human to commute, but far enough away he wasn't mingling with the general population. Vlad flew in, of course he did, but as long as people could agree that driving was an option, it was never questioned. The mansion was almost as large as his castle in Wisconsin, with sprawling wings, never-ending hallways, and a secret creepy lair in the basement. Just what every billionaire needed.

Searching the rooms came up empty and he was about to turn back when a crash came from a room slightly further away. Rounding the doorway he was taken aback by the sight of two suited men dangling from the ceiling beams with what looked like buckets of milk.

"I- What are you doing?" The sound of Danny's voice caused them to snap their heads in his direction.

"Danny!! Glad you're still here. How did you find us?" Tim gave Danny a grin as he swung himself to by lying on the beam instead of hanging from it.

"Damian told me you went through the door and then I heard the crash."

"Yeah sorry about him, he is still learning social customs." Dick chimed in with a similar grin to Tim. He was clearly more comfortable hanging there as he hadn't righted himself. "Want to help us? We were thinking of dropping milk all over Masters but we would need a distraction to get him into the room."

Danny's eyes darkened and a grin crept across his face.

"Absolutely."

DPxDC Prompt:

When Vlad announces that he'll be hosting a gala-- when Danny's parents make it clear he can't get out of attending-- Danny vents about the issue with his online friend, Tim (a boy he's been chatting with for months now, becoming quick friends over Doomed.)

"Huh, that's kind of weird," Tim says. "B's dragging me out of state to a gala this weekend too."

It's a little too much coincidence for Danny. "Uh… do you mind saying which state?" he asks.

"It's in Illinois," Tim says, and Danny just about bluescreens.

Despite being generally very careful about disclosing any information online, Danny can't help but shout a very enthusiastic, "WHERE IN ILLINOIS?"

There's a pause before Tim says, "Amity Park? Why, do you-- oh my god."

Danny's sure it's clicked for Tim too. He's out of his seat, pacing his room, not even sure when he got up. His mind is buzzing, both nervous and delighted. "Does it count as doxing myself if I confirm what is probably already extremely obvious?" he says with a laugh.

Tim snorts. "Maybe just a little, but-- do you still want to avoid that gala?"

"Fuck no."

[redsray]

i do love the idea of the wayne kids giving bernard shovel talks about taking care of tim and all that but also give me batfam who are just as protective of bernard as they are of each other.

give me bernard, attending his first wayne gala as tim's significant other. having a suit custom tailored and funded by bruce even if bernard insists it's not necessary because he already has one. arriving at the gala anxious because of course he is, it's a goddamn socialite event, but being protected from every side by the wayne kids even when tim is dragged away.

Socialite: Oh, and who might you be?

Bernard: Oh, um, hi. I'm Bernard Dowd, nice to meet you.

Socialite: Dowd? I've never heard of your family before. Who...?

Bernard: I'm not here with my family, miss, I'm here with my boyfriend.

Socialite: ... Boyfriend?

Bernard: Yeah, I'm here with Tim.

Socialite, frowning: Tim... as in Drake-Wayne? He has a boyfriend?

Dick, coming up next to Bernard: He sure does! Bernard here is practically one of ours now, aren't you? He matters to Timmy, so he matters to us.

Bernard: Dick—

Dick: C'mon, let's get you back to Timmy. Farewell, Mrs!

Bernard: I could've handled that.

Dick: All the rules that apply to my siblings during galas apply to you too. I'm sure you could've, but you shouldn't have to. I've got your back too, now, yeah?

Bernard: ... Yeah. Thanks, Dick.

Jason, coming up to Bernard at the bar: Not to freak you out, kid, but there's a guy starin' at ya from the other side of the bar. Y'know him or should I encourage him to look away?

Bernard, startled: Huh? (looks around) Oh. No, I don't know him. Why... is he looking at me like that, actually?

Jason, scowling: 'S just how the slimy fuckers at these events are. Can't keep their eyes off anything that's small, young or pretty. Disgusting. I'll deal with him— where's your annoying other half gone, inferior blondie?

Bernard: Tim? He got pulled away for quote; 'something important' by some lady. He said he'll meet me here after he's done, so I've been waiting.

Jason: Huh. If I see him I'll point him yer way. Hey, don't be 'fraid to ask any of us questions or for help if ya need it. We know the best how daunting this shit can be.

Bernard, genuinely touched: ... Thanks, Jason.

Jason: Yeah, yeah. Don't tell Timmers I said that, though, he'll call me a loser.

Bernard, laughing: I won't.

Bernard, being talked to by several people at once and a bit overwhelmed by the attention: Uh— I'm—

Damian, stepping between him and the socialites: Dowd. I require your assistance.

Bernard: Um— hi, Damian— with what?

Damian: You will see when we get there. Follow me, Drake's more tolerable half.

Bernard: Okay... so what do you need from me?

Damian: Nothing. You seemed to dislike the attention from all of the nosy adults over there. It was the most efficient way of extracting you from the situation.

Bernard: Oh. Thanks, Damian.

Damian: Tt, don't thank me yet, Dowd. I am still criticising your choice in romantic partners.

Bernard: Didn't you threaten me with a katana to not dampen Tim's mood in any way shape or form?

Damian: Slander. I said quote 'if you make Drake more annoying by breaking his heart I'm going to maim you.' I don't see how you got the message you did from that.

Bernard, grinning: Sure, Damian. Sure.